I blog about my jewelry inspirations. Readers will find that various elements of nature are my inspirations. Of course, I include jewelry making tips. This blog also includes some of my favorite Etsy shops, bead shops and jewelry customers.

Saturday, October 31, 2015

If you are looking for the perfect gift and are in Delaware this Saturday, November 7, 2015, the Baywood Country Club is the scene for a terrific annual fall craft fair. There are over 40 local artisans and vendors with handmade gifts ready for you to purchase. Some items for sale include:• HOLIDAY GIFTS• GIFTS FOR ANY OCCASION• PHOTOGRAPHY• POTTERY • WOOD WORK • JEWELRY• FINE ART• PILLOWS and QUILTS • TOYS• And much, much more

The event takes place in the Clubhouse ballroom from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. My Bay Moon Design line of jewelry and handmade cards will be there.

View from Baywood Clubhouse ballroom

There will be a drawing for dinner for 2 at Baywood Greens Restaurant, $100 Value

Drawing for 2 rounds of golf at Baywood Greens, $240 Value

50/50 Drawing
Beneficiaries are Sussex County Habitat for Humanity
and Delaware Hospice

Coupon for 15% off Lunch or Dinner at Baywood Greens Restaurant just for attending the Fair

Thursday, October 29, 2015

Andrew Thornton created Brave Angel blog hop to call attention to breast cancer because he believes in the importance of raising awareness for breast cancer prevention and supporting innovations in treatment and advances in research. If you're not familiar with the challenges, they are a fun way to push yourself creatively and create from an assortment of pre-selected components.

The KIt

I received lots of beads in the color pink. I got some Japanese Miyuki seed beads, Toho seed beads, Japanese Matsuno seed beads, vintage Czech seed beads, freshwater pearls, glass pearls, Czech glass (both old and new), rose quartz, wood, stone, vintage sequins, German glass, vintage plastic, Swarovski crystals, vintage Japanese glass, Javanese glass, and vintage lucite. The kit also included a special handmade component made by Thornton.

Sometimes all you need are a few beads to complete a design. That is true of these earrings. I have been waiting for just the perfect beads to go with these handmade ceramic beads. I knew I wanted to pick up the green in the beads with forest green Irish waxed linen thread. I had the tiny flowers but I needed some other small beads and Thornton's kit supplied them.

The same was true for this pair of pink earrings. I had the large, pink round faux seaglass, but I needed 2 beads to go with it. I added some silver bead caps on the top and bottom and sterling circle links and the earrings are completed and for sale HERE.

Thornton's pink beads were perfect for this pink and gray necklace. The beads were selected by color and finish. I used bleached and pearlescent blush acrylic beads and matte rosy coral stone from the kit. The pink and rosy coral ceramic is by Marsha Neal and has blush and rosy coral in it. To contrast with the pink. I used a few of my sage green pearls. I used gunmetal spacers and gray leather as well as base metal findings to pull in the gray color. I also selected a Tierra Cast antique silver button that has a circular pattern like the focal and has a pattern of flower to use as a clasp. It works with the gray colors. The necklace is about 18 inches around with the ceramic hanging about 1.5 inches. It is available HERE for purchase.

I still have tons of the beads left! I am looking forward to using them.

Saturday, October 17, 2015

While taking a walk on a gorgeous fall day just outside the Smokey National Park in Townsend, Tennessee, U.S.A., I stumbled across Townsend Artisan Guild. The Townsend Artisan Guild was founded in 2007 for fine artists and fine crafts persons from East Tennessee to promote education, exploration, awareness, and development of arts.

The group strives to promote community interest in and appreciation of the arts through participation in events, demonstrations, classes, festivals, and workshops. I noticed the sign and several Halloween displays outside. This eye catching witch from the Wizard of Oz was created by a local 3rd grade class and a perfect example of their community outreach.

Artistic expression of local 3rd class

another part of inside of artisan guild

Once inside, I was welcomed by one of the artists. We chatted about our backgrounds. I mentioned that I made beads and jewelry and she made art with paper mache. I was invited to take a behind the scenes tour. I was warned that they were only opened recentlyand everything was not on display yet or ready for public view. I snapped at the opportunity.

Artisit's dogs

Lots of us have studio pets. I for one have 3 cats.

Artist working with paints and wax.

The next artist that I met was working with paint and wax and she had her 2 dogs / studio pets at her feet. I love how she has tin buckets of brushes on the shelving in back of her. I was surprised that her work area was so neat. Beaders like myself usually have piles of beads on their work table and lots of stuff spilling all over. I would never let anyone see my work area without extensive advance notice. They would be certain I was a crazy cat lady.

Felted jacket being worked on

I was delighted to see there were numerous fiber artists there. Even though I am not a fiber artist, I frequent fiber artist Sandra Sapienza's NeedleArts Adventure Retreats which are held twice a year and attended by many well know fiber artists. I am always amazed at what these artists create.

More fiber art

Isn't this a beauty!

Work area of Silk Scarf Painter

Again, I am amazed at how neat and organized these talented artists are. Maybe there is a lesson here for beaders like myself. This work area is used by an artist that paints on silk. I took notice of the paints for the silks lined up together in one spot and how tidy everything is. The scarves were breath taking. I loved the vibrant colors and scenes on them.I couldn't leave without buying something. I loved it all but what would a beader buy but a necklace! I just had to have a bear necklace made by my tour guide and paper mache artist Sharon Webb.Of course, I have 2 bear necklaces for sale in my Etsy store.

This turquoise bear necklace has a very handsome and strong looking ceramic bear focal by ceramic artist Moriah Betterly. I created a leather and chain necklace using turquoise Irish waxed linen thread to add to the Southwest colors in the bear. The long necklace is 28 inches around and the bear is 2 inches long and 3 inches wide and is available for purchasse HERE.

This brown bear necklace is a one of a kind handmade chunky wood statement necklace. This necklace has a very handsome and strong looking ceramic bear focal by ceramic artist Moriah Betterly. I created a multi strand necklace with one strand made with large linked natural brass chain and the other with red Irish waxed linen thread. The brownish red and subtle yellow beads are vintage chunky wood beads. Reddish green Greek ceramic beads were added to give the wooden necklace more color. I added a bronze leaf clasp to add to the woodsy theme of the animal totem necklace. It is also available for purchase HERE.If you are in the area next Sat. Oct. 24, 2015, stop by Cades Cove Winery in Townsend, TN for the Townsend Artisan Guild exhibit where lots of these goodies will be on sale. Also, sample some Cades Cove Wines. Blackberry is my favorite.

Friday, October 16, 2015

The October Earrings Everday challenge is to select one of the looks from these fashion collections and create a pair of earrings to accessorize it. The aubergine hued dresses above are from designer Monique Lhuillier. I love the deep, saturated eggplant colors... the mix of patterns with lace... the layering effect... all of these make this Fall 2015 collection from her luscious. She is known for her corseted looks, her dreamy romantic wedding ensembles, and stunning red carpet gowns, so the above collection is a bit of a departure for her.

Purple fall 2105 collection

The second collection that we could choose from had more of a purple palette of colors. It is amazing that the same model has such different looks. From young and hip to stylishly classic. It was such fun picking the one look from these pictures and design earrings to go with it.

My choice of dress to design earrings for

I couldn't resist selecting the above dress, after all I had once purchased one similar to this. I even had a similar purse to go with it. I decided to design some earrings that I would wear with it. I love freshwater pearls and I was able to locate a stunning pair of 10 mm eggplant freshwater pearl earrings. Each matched pearl has grade as AAA, gem quality. I topped each with a rich looking silver cap. At the bottom of each there is a tiny silver bead. These earrings are 1 1/4 inches (3 cm), measured from the top of the earring wire. Simple and elegant, the earrings will be suitable for all seasons and occasions. They are especially suitable for this dress because they don't distract from the dress and the model is wearing her hair up and these earrings could be seen easily. Both earrings and dress have a elegant and classic look together. These earrings are available for purchase HERE.

I love making earrings and Bay Moon Design has several holiday craft fairs to get ready for . My earrings usually sell well so I am adding more to my collection. I found the large and small beads in the kit and transformed them in the brown earrings that are perfect for fall and are available for purchase HERE.

I sometimes I have beads just sitting on my table waiting for the perfect beads to match them up with. That was true of the next two pairs. Each cute copper bird sit on a nest that is resting on a flower. Each flower has a crystal in it from the kit. The birds are topped with crystals from the kit.

These boho green and brown lampwork earrings combine beautiful artisan lampwork with copper. I used natural copper kidney shaped ear wires to bring out the brown in the lampwork. The earthy green and brown earrings have an organic and natural look to them and would make a great birthday, Christmas or holiday gift as well as an addition to your accessories. They are available for purchase HERE. The lampwork beads are made by a SRA artist Sue Kennedy. Once again I used some of the tiny beads in the kit.

This long black cat necklace features a handmade black ceramic cat pendant that is suspended from a rustic handmade copper ring on a lightweight but strong copper colored chain. I added some square Czech glass beads, round golden brown beads added some sparkly beads to them and strung them on copper wire that matches the coppery colored chain. The round golden brown beads and some of the tiny spacer beads are from Andrew. This piece of Halloween jewelry has a modern and minimalist look to it. Of course any cat lover or owner of a black cat would wear it all year long. The long chain necklace is 26 inches around. The pendant hangs 1 1/4 inches below. It is available for purchase HERE. I am looking forward to using more of the beads from the kit. I have already set aside some of the black rectangular beads for another cat necklace that I am designing for the Superstition Blog Hop on Friday November 13. I can't wait! How about you?

Sunday, October 11, 2015

I love the October Art Bead Scene Challenge. The subject of it has always fascinated me me. Mythology and Queen Nefertari have interested me since I was a little girl. This month's inspiration is an image found in the tomb of Queen Nefertari. Her tomb is located in the Valley of the Queens, near the ancient city of Thebes, Egypt. It is one of the best preserved and most ornate of all known tombs. Unfortunately, in 2003 the tomb was closed to the general public.Her tomb has many depictions of mythological deities. This diety is the winged goddess Ma'at who is the symbol of truth, order, law, morality and justice. Ma'at is shown in a red dress, her green wings extended to shield the queen's cartouche.

As soon as I saw this challenge, I immediately focused on the wings. I selected a focal bead that is a wing made by Blueberribeads.The beautiful bird or angel wing is ceramic. This green feather has been hand carved from earthenware clay and colored with a tea green glaze. I love this particular focal because a wing symbolizes. This is a motif that I use in some of my jewelry. The wing can be used to make remembrance necklaces. I also use it in some of my earrings.

The color palette that I decided to use is green, brown, and orange with a tiny hint of yellow. The orange agate beads with a little yellow worked to brighten the dark brown natural brass chain. This is a nice color palette for fall jewelry too. I am creating fall jewelry now so I think this will be a good fit. What do you think? If you would like to purchase the wing necklace, it is available HERE.

Monday, October 5, 2015

Inspiration for my designs comes from the strangest places sometimes. I had the opportunity to visit Fort Ligonier which is a British fortification from the French and Indian War and located in Ligonier, Pennsylvania. The history of Fort Ligonier began in September 1758 and was concluded in March 1766, embracing the period of the French and Indian War and Pontiac’s War. The story of this time period is told through the remarkable Fort Ligonier museum exhibits and a fully reconstructed and restored fortification. Eight acres of the original site of Fort Ligonier have been preserved, with the subsurface features restored and the above-ground elements reconstructed.

Approach to Fort Ligonier

As I approached Fort Ligonier, I couldn't help but be struck by the sight of the outer retrenchment, 1,600 feet long, that surrounds the fort.

One of the 3 gates into the fort

The inner fort is 200 feet square, defended by four bastions and accessed by three gates; inside is the officers’ mess, barracks, quartermaster, guardroom, underground magazine, commissary, and officers’ quarters. Immediately outside the fort is General Forbes’s hut.Other external buildings include the Pennsylvania hospital (two wards and a surgeon’s hut), a smokehouse, a saw mill, bake ovens, a log dwelling and a forge.

One of the bastions

Quarter Master Supply Building

Inside the quarter master supply building

It became very obvious that there were several distinct types of armed fighting men here. The King’s regulars were raised in the British Isles and paid by the Crown, although colonists also enlisted in the regular army. Provincial troops consisted of volunteers recruited, equipped and paid by individual colonies. At Fort Ligonier, these troops were from Pennsylvania and Virginia, with detachments from the “Lower Counties” (now Delaware), Maryland and North Carolina. Local militia served at the fort in 1763.

Officer's sleeping quarters

Commissioned officers formed a close elite group separated by a wide gulf from the other ranks, or enlisted men. Standing between the two was a distinct class of managers: sergeants and corporals, who enforced work and discipline. While the officer's slept in beds, the enlisted slept in tents.

Officer's Dining Area

The officer's had a well furnished dining area and got better rations than the enlisted.

The fort and the surrounding area brought to mind the predominant colors of brown and greens. Visiting this area in early fall, very few leaves had turned and there were lots of leaves. When I made this fall bracelet I used a green ceramic leaf that has pretty light green and brownish red veins running through it. I paired reddish brown beads, copper beads, and green and rust jasper chips. I think that this bracelet captures the color of Fort Liginoir in early fall. I am sure in a few weeks there will be lots of oranges, pinks, and yellows.

Leaves were also the focus of the jewelry retreat I attended here in Lingonier. Heather Powers of Humblebeads taught to make a leaf out of 20 gauge copper and incorporate it into jewelry.

As a member of this team, Bay Moon Design has been busy creating some new jewelry and cards with fall in mind for this event. This is the time of year when my customers are looking for jewelry, cards and gifts for such events as

Halloween

Thanksgiving

birthdays

weddings or bridal showers

baby showers or new baby

I put together this small sampling of some of some of my Autumn items. I hope something catches your eye! I am also tempting you further with free US shipping from now through Saturday with a purchase of $20 or more.

These new designs plus others are available for purchase in myBay Moon Design shopnow. I am offering free shipping for US customers with Coupon Code FREEUS on orders $20 or more now through Sat. Don't forget that custom orders are welcome. Please feel free to email me at baymoondesign@gmail.com.